The Ollantaytambo Fortress

Ollantaytambo, Peru

Description

The most prominent feature in Ollantaytambo is certainly the fortress, said to be built in the shape of a llama.

Right from the entrance to the site, the ruins of Ollantaytambo climb up into the terraced heights of a temple district. It is often called a fortress, but only part of the site was dedicated to military purposes, while the very top is an unfinished temple. It was likely a Temple of the Sun, and some of the stone blocks that make up the unfinished area weight more than 50 tons!

Give yourself an hour or so to explore the entire 'fortress' site. Entrance will cost you 130 Soles and opening hours are 7am-6pm year round. If you want to avoid most of the tour groups, definitely shoot for the morning or evening and you'll have it mostly to yourself.

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